Sep 28, 2023

[Chinese BL novel] 和豪门霸总联姻后我爆红了 by 且拂 / I became famous after marrying a wealthy boss

 

Synopsis: Xie Xi traveled to the world of the novel when his life in the apocalypse tragically ended. The original Xie Xi didn't survive long, he was initially a wealthy young master, a firstborne, but in few years his mothers's family went bankrupt, his uncle falsely accused and entered the game, his mother passed away due to illness, this created the chance for his father to take his illegitimate son under the guise of adopted son back home, he also married another woman, had another two children, so the first son was brought up in neglect. Original Xie Xi thought that after meeting his love things would change, but who knew it was a soft rice eater, who used all the income Xie Xi got and entered the cirlcle, and when he got a little famous unwanted and disowned Xie Xi was not needed anymore. Original Xie Xi developed ED and became thinner and thinner and was repuslive to eating, the last time he was hacked into oblivion due to actions of his agents he also went viral on the live broadcast of a food show. This was a critical moment when Xie Xi arrived. But it's only a beginning.

The title of this novel should be I became popular and then married a wealthy boss.  After all ths boss is unusual. I must say I really liked this novel, it was humorous, lovely and cozy. The romance wasn't overbearing, the story was lively and the character of Xie Xi is quite charismatic. And even if he's quite omnipotent it still doesn't give you a bad feeling, because of many good deeds of Xie Xi.
Maybe the only thing about omnipotence is the setting before XX crossed over. He was an actor and very dedicated, thus he learned bits and pieces, he was also orphaned, so the old man who brought him up also taught him fortune-telling. In apocalypse XX got mental and healing powers, when he crossed his powers traveled with him. So he had mental and healing powers and also could read faces, so part of the novel has a mataphysics taste (without ghosts though).
When XX arrived he finished the broadcast and thought about how to change the image, also he was in need of money. One, he really had no savings and two, he was approached by a Buttler of the Pei family, previously he was engaged to their heir, Pei Lang. Buttler asked to take care of their young master and gave XX.. a puppy (wolf cub). And later disappered leaving some initial funds. Realziing that one way or another he needs to earn money XX agrees to suddenly appearing unfinished business from the trecherous agent. Even knowing that it's a set up XX isn't bothered and agrees, he wants to confront the Producer who was after the original XX. Thus he joined a show, which was broadcasted live and became a hit. And because every guest had to wear a mask for 3 days, he showed off his skills and captured many viewers and guests as well. On the contrary his ex-boyfriend and actor who dumped XX and also his supposed to be new lover, also the illegitimate son of the father Xie, got their first hit and drop in reputation. XD was always sinister and wanted to destroy XX believing that if it wasn't for him, his family would be complete...naive, but vicious, he did many things to XX. But the current XX isn't someone who can be easily cracked.
The show was a small hit, XX got many advantages from it and went on a path of his past career, while being a complete dog slave.
What he didn't know that even if he thought his dog was personable, it was actually Pei Lang himself. Their family has a special bloodline, before turning 25 they become cubs and must live and be supported outside for the curse to be lifted. XX had no idea, but he happily made Pai Lang's luxuty fur almost bald fro all the hugging. So you may guess that the relationship wasn't even on the agenda before Pei lang turned back and their foundation of being together was the first step to consolidaing their relationship.

The overall novel is quite humorous and lovely. No completely hardcore and depressing stuff. On the contrary a lot of pay off after reuniting with the family, helping random artists or people, doing good deeds. The bad guys got what they deserved, but it wasn't written in the usual "going bankrupt in a day" type of thing which let's agree is silly, on the contrary there was some work put into it, but it wasn't heavy on details. I noticed several things weren't really going too deep. Xie Xi had his harvest in career when he took part in variety shows and was filming, but also in love, when he realized that he did not mind being with Pei Lang and he was not only attracted to that wonderful white pup, but also the handsome young man also made his hands itchy.
So I found Xie Xi quite charismatic, because of his skills he can do many things and understands people's fates, he's also kind, but it's not to the point of a holy father, he likes to tease Pei Lang and is sometimes mischievous. He also pays back to those who deserve it, but not in a dumb cruel way. Anyway, his character is quite good to me. Pei Lang is also pretty likable, he's more of an innocent type with thin skin. At first he was baffled by the bloodline thing and was vary of Xie Xi and his greedy hands who wanted to rub him bald. But later there was a connection between the two and he really started to like Xie Xi, so he chased after him when he turned back.
All in all, lovely short story, was worth reading. After all lately I'm a bit against angsty and tragic stories that have too much human dirt. I want something light-hearted and comfortable.

RATE: 4/5. I think I've read several novels from this author, but I'm not sure, yet I will try other stories from them. When in need of easy-going stories go to those who can give such.

[Chinese BG novel] 顶流她又强又沙雕 / Silly and strong top streamer

 

Synopsis: Xia Xi became a Sea king in the novel. Original Xia Xi aimed for a big fish and marrying a wealthy family. Current Xia Xi traveled to this world she chose. Silly head had no idea that the title of Sea king doesn't mean you'll become a seafood tycoon. But now she has to become one for real. Xia Xi disagrees. After all "Isn't the money earned yourself enough?". Thus when three big fishes were waiting for the Sea king to overturn, Xia Xi joined the draft for a female group and stepped on the path of becoming a top stream.

I relatively liked this novel, but it wasn't without some flaws.

Usually it's all about saying good stuff first, but I will start from few points that left me unsatisfied with this novel.

1) I don't like characters that sound a bit out of touch. You have to force through first few chapters before it picks up and Xia Xi doesn't sound like a complete silly goose. After all at one point you think she's okay and at another time she shows her silliness.

Tbh the background of Xia Xi stayed very blurry to me, it feels like I understand that ahe had a master who taught her martial arts, thus it was her main point rhoughout entire novel, but was it a modern times or not who knows.

2) The portrayal of her "fish". The three men most of the time act like most cliche and unbearably toxic men imaginable, just because they know that original Xia Xi was chasing them for a reason, but they were partially related, thus discovered that all three were chased by the same woman, so they disdained her and wanted to play and never cared about her feelings. Xia Xi never cared about these men when she arrived, so she never even recognized them, to her they were some strange dudes with a load of self-esteem, thinking Xia Xi will be honored/happy to see they paid attention. Next thing was like self-hallucination. After all they corrected their own ways due to self-reflecting and watching Xia Xi on the show. What I want to say it's all in their heads. And the chasing after new Xia Xi was futile.

3) The romance tag confused me for the longest of times, until few last chapters I was like - oh... we're doing one last step romance. Because otherwise it should have been no-CP or actually, it had such a strong lily scent.

Now the good parts:

Except for initial silliness Xia Xi is quite humorous, hard-working and has very good qualities about herself. She can do many things, even cutting people's hairs (because she did it for her master, thus I thought it was a modern setting, her previous life, and thus I was confused how she managed to not know slang like Sea king) and it attracted the crowd. Xia Xi went into draft as blank canvas, her only wish was to get money and open a martial arts studio, but through her hard work, good memory and never-ending energy, she made the greatest progress and even debuted in C position.

The story itself doesn't cover a very long period, mostly draft and the year when all 11 girls promoted as a group. There is like the main group of girls and more or less secondary characters that rarely appear/mentioned, the mains are Xia Xi's female harem. Because the feelings are so good and the female friendship is good, their relationship gives a very nice comfortable feeling. As well as a bit condemning the idol scene, because the girls are described to work very hard, dance and sing very well and are very charismatic, but many other groups are using visuals against the talent, so that's the trend our girls broke up.

During this year Xia Xi wasn't only with her girls, but started acting and felt it was fun, but she was self-aware and started from small roles. All her roles are not far from being connected to her martial arts. She also acts as instructor, helps others to learn self-defense etc. Her dream basically came true when it came to opening martial arts studio.

The entire novel has this "I'm independent woman I can do it all" feeling that modern times like. She does promote it well and she does promote hard work, although compared to others her martial arts are like a cheat... Anyway, it lasts the entire novel, although the strong lily scent I mentioned is about the main girls who really like Xia Xi and feel very protected and reliable. But the "romance" tag became clear when we get to know the screenwriter of Xia Xi's movie. It's a handsome and aloof young man, he is very talented, has a good background, in the end there is very washed out foreshadowing which is I guess only like one scene where he gets attracted by Xia Xi, and only at the very end it's like - let's come together and try it out kind of thing. At least thanks for that. I may like girls who are strong and reliable, but being single feels so lonely, why not get yourself one who respects you, it doesn't mea she will fall into unfavorable position, thus this man was written in the story and I wasn't mad at it.

RATEL 3.75/5. Solely because of how three men were portrayed, it was like the most brain-dead part of the novel, the rest of it was fine.